Define the term "combustion efficiency."

Combustion efficiency specifically refers to how effectively a fuel is transformed into usable energy during the combustion process. It indicates the percentage of available energy from the fuel that is converted into useful work or heat, as opposed to being lost in the form of unburned fuel, excess carbon monoxide, soot, or heat escaping into the environment.

A high combustion efficiency means that most of the energy contained in the fuel is utilized, resulting in better energy output and lower emissions, which is crucial in power engineering for improving the performance of boilers, engines, and heating systems.

Understanding combustion efficiency is vital for optimizing energy use, achieving sustainability goals, and maintaining safety standards in all power generation and heating processes.